President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle, has called on Nigerians to embrace hard work as a way of meeting the demands of the nation’s current economic condition.

Ayokunle made the call at a thanksgiving service organised by CAN in his honour and CAN Vice-President, Elder Joseph Otubu, at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Saturday.

He also called on the leadership of the country to face the challenges with optimism.

Ayokunle said that the current economic crisis was a global phenomenon, which should be addressed hopefully, not with frustration.

“The Church does not have political and economic power to address the current changes. What we have is the spiritual power.

“We have called for a national prayer; the other thing we can do is to urge government to buckle up.

“They are the last resort for Nigerians; they manage the national wealth so they should be courageous; tough times don’t last but tough people do.

“We know the pains you in the Church are going through; we see you everyday; we know that some of you have not received your salaries for the past seven months.

“Our theology of work must change; hard work is what will move this nation from the economic condition which we have found ourselves,’’ he said.